Kunal Purohit, President – ​​Next Gen Services, Tech Mahindra, discusses several key initiatives and innovations at Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab. In the following Q&A session, he talks about Project Indus, an AI-driven enterprise platform that optimizes operational efficiency and focuses on the Hindi language and its dialects through a user contribution portal:

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Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab is known for driving innovation. Can you tell us about the most impactful and revolutionary solutions from the Makers Lab in recent times?

At Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab, our mission is to drive purposeful and human-centric innovation. One of our most impactful initiatives is Project Indus. Driven by a desire to revolutionize the future of work, Project Indus leverages the power of AI to create a seamless and intelligent enterprise platform. This platform optimizes operational efficiency and improves decision-making by providing real-time insights and predictive analytics. Project Indus uses an innovative “GenAI in a box” framework and simplifies the delivery of advanced AI models, Makes it easier for companies to integrate and scale AI applicationsThe initial phase of the Indus LL.M. targets the Hindi language and its 37+ dialects. The project includes a portal called projectindus.in where users can contribute linguistic data.

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Our Makers Lab played a central role in the conception and development of Project Indus. By fostering a collaborative environment, we combined the ingenuity of our diverse talent pool with Cutting-edge technologies. The project aims to address the real-world challenges facing businesses today, providing scalable and customizable solutions that drive growth and sustainability. With Project Indus, Makers Lab is demonstrating how innovation can be both revolutionary and highly beneficial, paving the way for smarter, more efficient businesses.

How do you assess the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on the workplace, particularly in terms of operational efficiency and employee productivity?

GenAI is transforming the world of work, significantly increasing operational efficiency and employee productivity. At Tech Mahindra, we see GenAI as a catalyst for creating smarter, more efficient processes that drive innovation and deliver value at unprecedented speed. We have introduced GenAI-driven pair programming to support our employees throughout the software development lifecycle and have deployed GenAI-powered co-pilots to increase personal productivity.

By automating routine tasks, GenAI enables employees to focus on more strategic and creative tasks, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.

Our approach is holistic and focused on equipping our workforce with advanced AI tools to drive sustainable growth and innovation. In an ever-evolving market, Tech Mahindra remains committed to creating a dynamic, agile workplace where technology and human ingenuity come together to deliver outstanding results.

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What major ethical challenges do you see in integrating AI and quantum computing into the industry and how is Tech Mahindra addressing them?

The integration of AI and Quantum computing promises unprecedented progress, but also brings with it certain ethical challenges. One major problem is data protection. The enormous computing power of quantum computing could potentially crack current encryption methods and make sensitive data vulnerable. In addition, the bias in AI algorithms can be amplified by the capabilities of quantum computing, leading to unintended and potentially discriminatory outcomes. At Tech Mahindra, we are proactively addressing these challenges with our Makers Lab initiatives. We are pioneering the development of quantum-safe cryptography to protect data in a post-quantum world. In addition, our AI ethics framework emphasizes transparency, accountability, and fairness.

We invest in interdisciplinary teams that include ethicists, engineers and legal experts to ensure that our innovations meet ethical standards. By fostering a culture of ethical foresight and continuous learning, Tech Mahindra aims to lead responsibly in this transformative era and ensure that technology serves the interests of humanity.

What significant AI tools and innovations has Makers Lab developed in recent years?

Our mission at Makers Lab is to drive innovation by bridging the gap between imagination and reality. Over the past few years, we have been leveraging the power of AI to build tools that push the boundaries of technology and create real-world impact. One of our standout innovations is the BHAML (Bharat Markup Language) solution that enables coding in native languages. Another notable creation is Enterprise Intelligence I/O (Entellio), a futuristic on-premises chatbot for enterprises powered by generative and discriminatory AI. Other innovations include Atmanirbhar Krishi, a super app for farmers that provides valuable agriculture-related consolidated, curated information, and Panchang Intelligence, a rainfall forecasting solution based on an ancient Indian almanac.

Our commitment to quantum computing has also been recognized. Avasant considers us a leading service provider in this cutting-edge field. In addition, our collaborative research and development efforts have earned us a place as a World Economic Forum case study, demonstrating the impact of our innovative solutions. Our commitment to innovation has been recognized globally, with awards such as the ISG Digital Case Study Award for Banking (UBI) in Metaverse 2023, Most Innovative Company 2021, and World Innovation Congress Most Innovative Leader. In addition, our support for startups has been recognized with the MindtheGap Award for Mentoring. At Makers Lab, we continue to drive technological advancements and make significant strides in the AI ​​landscape.

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What new trends in AI and computing are you most excited about and how is Makers Lab positioning itself to capitalize on them?

At Makers Lab, we are on the cusp of a revolution in AI and computing, embracing trends such as GenAI, Quantum Computing, and Neuromorphic Engineering. GenAI’s ability to create content that mimics human creativity is transforming industries from entertainment to healthcare. Quantum computing promises to solve problems beyond the reach of classical computers and could transform everything from cryptography to complex system simulations. Neuromorphic engineering, with its brain-inspired architectures, offers a leap in efficiency and performance for AI systems.

Makers Lab is strategically positioned at the forefront of these innovations. Our multidisciplinary teams develop quantum algorithms to accelerate machine learning, explore the potential of neuromorphic chips for more efficient AI, and create Generative AI models that push the boundaries of creativity. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, we transform these emerging trends into practical solutions and ensure that Tech Mahindra remains at the forefront of the next wave of technological advancements.

How do you ensure continuous learning and development in your team at Makers Lab?

We foster a culture of continuous learning by combining experiential learning with a collaborative spirit. Our team participates in hands-on projects and explores new technologies such as AI, quantum computing and blockchain. Regular knowledge sharing sessions keep our learning ecosystem vibrant. For example, we recently collaborated with a leading university in the field of quantum algorithms, enabling our team to learn from top researchers. On the occasion of World Quantum Day 2024, Tech Mahindra and IQM Quantum Computers have joined forces to raise awareness, demonstrate and promote the transformative power and improve understanding of quantum science and technology.

By fostering curiosity and innovation, we stay ahead of technology trends and empower our team to drive breakthrough solutions. This dynamic learning approach turns challenges into opportunities and fuels our mission to build a future-ready workforce.

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